Mechanism for setting up welt bars and welt rods in flat knitting machines



June 4, 1946.

F. M. WACHTLER ETAL MECHANISM FOR SETTING UP WELT BARS AND WELT RODS IN FLAT KNITTING MACHINES Filed July 31, 1942 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS ATTORNEY June 1945- F. M. WACHTLER ETAL 2,401,531

MECHANISM FOR SETTING UP WELT BARS AND WELT RODS IN FLAT KNITTING MACHINES Filed Uuly 31, 1942 6 Sheets-Sheet, 2

INVENTORS flied/dc]; flax Ida-filler BY w Zarzald GT/xziner.

ATTOHN June 4, 1946. I F. M. WACHTLER EIAL 2,401,531

MECHANISM FOR SETTING UP WELT BARS AND WELT RODS IN FLAT. KNITTINGMACHINES I Filed July 31; 1942 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 74k2dnick 1 1612 F I ,Damild G. Timin ATTORNEY 1 s H 5 e v 1. m 0 s 2 m .m 6

F. M. WACHTLER EI'AL MECHANISM FOR SETTING UP WELT BARS AND WELT June 4, 1946.

RODS m FLAT KNITTING MACHINES Filed July 31, 1942 INVENTORS June 4, 1946. F. M. WACHTLER ETAL MECHANISMFOR SETTING UP WELT BARS AND WELT RODS IN FLAT KNITTING MACHINES Fi1 ed July 31, 1942 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented June 4, 1946 MECHANISM FOR SETTING UP WELT BARS AND WELT RODS IN FLAT KNITTING MA- CHINES meant-h Max Wachtler, West New York," and Donald G. Trutner, Rutherford, N. 1., assignors to Alfred Hofmann, Inc., West New York, N. J.

Application July 31, 1942, Serial No. 453,113

The present invention generaliy relates to the formation of welt fabrics in flat knitting machines and, more particularly, pertains to mechanism for the setting up of welt bars and welt rods in multi section full-fashioned hosiery knitting machines. This application is a continuation in part of our copending application Serial Number 304,492, filed November 15, 1939, now Patent No. 1

In accordance with the usual practice in the manufacture of full-fashioned hosiery, the operator, pursuant to the laying and kinking of the first course of yarn on the several banks of needles of a multi section full-fashioned hosiery knitting machine, must manually bring each welt bar individually into operative relationship with the associated bank of needles and, in so doing, must exercise the greatest degree of care and skill to locate the welt hooks in a particular relation with the knitting instrumentalities, that is, the operator must tediously place each welt bar so that the welt hooks thereof pass between the needles at a point intermediate the spaced superposed rows of sinkers and knockover bits because,

otherwise, the hooking of the loops of the first v course will be faulty, resulting in the production of bad fabric.

41 Claims. (cl. 66-96) ing production and correspondingly decreasing the manufacturing and purchasing cost.

The invention especially aims to provide mechanisms and means whereby the welt bars may be brought accurately in position with respect to their associated banks of needles without der pendence on any particular skill of the operator so that the'proper relationship of the welt hooks with the needles, sinkers, and knockover bits is assured. Among the most important objects of the invention is the provision of mechanisms and means adapted to move all the Walt bars simultaneously towards the banks of needles for bringing all the welt hooks in position to engage and tension in unison the loops of the set-up course or courses in the several knitting sections of the machine while eliminating the necessity of separately attaching individual draw-off straps to each of said welt bars.

An equally important object of the invention resides in the provision of mechanisms and means devised to support a welt rod for each knitting section of the machine, and actionable to deposit all the welt rods simultaneously on the lengths of fabrics being knitted in the respective knitting sections to permit the turning welts.

It is also an important object ofthe invention necting the latter to the take-up mechanism of I the machine. Furthermore, after the knitting of a sufllcient length of fabric and prior to the turn. ing of the latter to form the ordinary double ply welt, the operator must manually placej a welt rod individually on each fabric being knitted on' before explained are considerable, and greatly hamper production, all of which necessarily affect the cost of manufacturing and. consequently, increase the price that the purchasing public must pay for the goods.

Itis, therefore',:the primary object of the invention to provide mechanisms and means whereby the number of manual operations and the time required for the set-up and turning of welts are reduced to a minimum, thus increasto provide mechanisms and means whereby the welt rods throughout the length of the knitting machine may' simultaneously be engaged and drawn against the corresponding fabrics for the formation of the double ply welts, without requiring. the separate manual attachment of in- .dividual draw-ofi straps to opposed and portions of said welt rods.

panying drawings and in the detailed description based thereupon, set out possible embodiments of the invention.

In these drawings;

Figure 1 is a top plan'of a portion of a fullfashioned hosiery knitting machine embody one form of the invention: Figure 2 is an end elevation of the same; Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 illustrating a modified form of the invention;

5Q Figure 4 is a broken top plan of the welt bar 3 supporting structure included in that form of the invention shown in Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 5 is a sectional detail taken on line 8-8 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional detail taken on line 8-8 of Figure 1 with parts removed for the sake of clarity;

Figure 7 is a vertical section looking in the general direction of line 'I-l, of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is an enlarged detail of parts of .the welt bar supporting structure included in that form of the invention illustrated in Figure 3;

Figure 9 is a vertical section through the length of the rail supporting block shown in elevation in Figure 8; v

1 Figure 10 is a detail looking in the general direction of line l8l8 of Figure 9;

Figure 11 is a Isectional'detail looking in the general direction of line li-il of Figure 10;

Figure 12 is an enlarged cross sectional detail of a portion of the parts shown in Figure 8;

Figure 13 is anenlarged sectional detail of parts shown in Figure 2 Figure 14 is an enlarged sectional detail of parts shown in Figure 3; I

Figure 15 is an enlarged detail of the welt rod holding and positioning device and'of the fabric Figure 19 is a top plan of another portion of the I take-up mechanism:

Figure 20 is an enlarged perspective of the welt rod holding and positioning mechanism.

Figure 21 is a section on a reduced scale taken on line 2l-2l of Figure 16;

Figure 22 is a diagrammatic'illustration of certain of the most important features of the invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings I wherein like characters of reference will indicate corresponding parts throughout, the machine frame is designated at 28 and carries the usual 82 disposed to cooperate with the presser edge 88, sinkers and dividers 84, and knockover bits88 for the knitting offabric in the manner well known in the art. Yarn is fed to the knitting sections 28 by means of' yarn carriers 88 connected to the carrier bars 48 y'supported in brackets 42 of the machine frame28.

The elements so far described are found in well known knitting machines commonly used in the trade and, since the construction and operation are fully understood by those familiar. with the art, an elaborate description thereof may be dis pensed with herein.

Adapted to cooperate with the knitting sections 4 ceive loops of the initial courses knitted by the banks of needles and subsequently return said loops onto the needles in the formation of double ply welts.

In Figures 1, 2, and 4 to 'I inclusive, there is shown one form of mechanism for supporting the welt bars 44 so that they may simultaneously be moved through manual operation towards the needles 82, and may simultaneously bemoved through automatic operation away from the needles 82. According tothis form of mechanism, there are provided two carrier devices 48, one for each end of each welt bar. 'Each carrier device 48 preferably consists of a supporting slidable plate 58 upon which ismounted a vertical split pin 82 adapted for frictional engagement with the Mounted freely upon the shaft 88 within the confines of each knitting section 28 is a Pair of hollow casings 82 preferably of circular configuration and each (as more clearly shown in Fi ure '7) having a bore 84 suitably formed in the peripheral surface thereof and opening therein.

Received within the bore 84 and rigidly connected thereby by means of a locking screw 88 is one end 88 of an elongated channeled rail 18 disposed so that its intermediate portion extends transversely of the front table 28 and its free end portion projects towards the needle bar 88.

As represented in the drawings, the portion of each rail 18 transversely extending over the front table 28 may be provided with a laterally extending lug,I2 carrying a bolt I4 adapted for engagement with said table and thussecure the rail "I8 in fixed position relative to the associated needle bar 88. y The casings 82 within the con-v fines of each knitting section 28 are located on the shaft 88 so that the free ends of the rails 18 lie in substantially transverse alignment with the opposite extremities of the corresponding needle bar 88. This location ofthe casings 82 may be fixed by their abutment against the bearing brackets 88.

Associated with each casing 82 and freely engaged on the shaft 88 as'will more clearly appear from Figures 6 and '7, is a disc- I8 of a size to fit concentrically within the hollow portion of said casing. The inner face of each disc I8 enclosed in the casing 82 is formed with an inner groove I8 and an outer groove 88 interconnected by means of a passage 82 cut 'on a line tangent tothe inner groove through the portion 84 separating said grooves. v

A flexible cable 88 preferably in the form of a coil. spring is nested within the grooves 18 and 88, one end portion 88 of said cable being retained securedly within the inner groove I8 by means of an annular plate 88 suitably fixed to the disc I8, for instance by bolts 82 or like fastening elements. Arranged adiacent'the outer face 84 of each disc I8 and keyed to the shaft 88, as shown at 88.

is a clutch member 88 provided with a spring pressed rotatable plunger I88 normally adapted for engagement with an opening 102 out into said of welt hooks 48. The welt hooks 48, which also serve as transfer elements, are adapted for coopdisc I8 whereby rotation of the shaft 88 in the direction of arrow B or in the direction of arrow C will be transmitted to-said disc I8 and, ac-

cordingly. wind or unwind the associated flexible spring cables 36. The free end I04 of each flexible cable 66 is introduced into the correspond Because of the provisionof the clutch arrangement, it will be understood that the mechanism for advancing and retracting the welt bar carrier devices 48 within the confines of any one of the knitting sections 28 may be rendered inoperative at will.

From the foregoing description, it will be understood that when the clutch members 98 are in active engaged position, rotation of the shaft 60 in the direction of arrow B will cause the welt bars 44 to move away from the needle bars 30, whereas rotation of the shaft 60 in the direction of arrow C will cause the welt bars to move towards the needle bars.

- Rotation of th shaft 60 in the direction of arrow B, which is utilized to slide the welt bars 44 away from the needles for drawing the welt fabrics as the knitting of courses progresses, is accomplished by means of a puliey'or drum IIO afllxed to said shaft, and of a take-up cable H2 mounted thereabout, said cable being maintained in constant pulling tension, for example, by passing in the usual well known manner over an overhead pulley and thence down to a counterweight (not shown);

The welt bars 44 are moved in unison towards the needle bars for the hook-up operation, that is, to bring the welt hooks 46 in position adjacent the needles 32 for engaging the initial sinker loops, by manually rotating th shaft 60 in the consistingof a one-tooth ratchet wheel H6 af-v fixed to the shaft 60 and adapted to be engaged by a dog II6 conveniently mounted on a suitable portion of the machine frame. This dog may be moved manually by the operator into contact with said wheel I It as the welt hooks 46 approach the needles 32 so that following rotation of the shaft 60 in the direction of arrow .0, the tooth II8 of said wheel II4 will abut the end of the dog and accordingly arrest further movement in that direction.

In Figures 3 and 8 through 12, there is'illustrated a modified form of the welt bar movement imparting mechanism. In accordance with this modified form, auxiliary shafts I20 and. I22 are provided, said shafts extending longitudinally of the machine and being supported in bearings (such as bearings I24 in Figure 3) spaced along and fixed to the front tabl 26. The shaft I22 is stationary, whereas the shaft I20 is capable of rocking motion as indicated by the arrows D and E in Figure 3.

Rigidly fixed to the auxiliary rockable shaft I20 are arms I26 preferably spaced so that one arm is located between each pair of knitting sections and at the outside end of each of the end knitting sections. Adapted for pivotal connection to the arms I26 are link devices 620.

Each of the link devices I2iirureferablycoms prises an elongated tubular sectionil l having one end screw-threaded, as shown at I32 (Figure 12) for adiustably receiving a forked shaped member I34 constructed for slidable engagement with a somewhat reduced portion I 36 of a connection element I30, thus guiding said element into the tubular section I30. Theforkedshaped member I34 may be locked in adiu'stableposition relatively to the tubular section I30 by means of a locking collar I40. It will be appreciated that the reduced portion I36 provides the connection element I36 with shoulders I42 which may contherewith is a connection piece I50 terminating" with an enlarged arcuate finger I52 pivoted, for,

instance, by means of a riveted pinI64 to a welt bar carrying element I66 on which; the corresponding end of the welt bar is detachably mounted. Each element I66 is peovidedwith rollers or pins I58 for the purpose to be hereinafter specifled.

The connection piece I50 is normallyurgedcinwardly of the tubular section I36.by;jmeans of a coil spring I60 having one ofits endsiconnected to said connection piece I50, asshown at I62 (Figure 8), and the other of its ends connected to the portion I 36 of the connection element I36, as shown at I64 (Figurelz) The inward movement of said connection piece I60, however, is limited by means of shoulder I66 formed thereonand, adapted to abut the adjacent edge of the'tubularv section I30, as

more clearly appears from F'igure 8.

The provision of the spring. I60, it will be ap- I preciated, moreover furnishes a yieldable connection between the connection element I38 and-tide)- connection piece I60 which aifords to thddeflce a resilient and flexible union advantageous in effecting the knitting of the welt fabric, as will be described mor fully hereinafter.

It will be noted that the spring I60 also acts to exert a constant pull on the connection. element I36, thus normally urgingthe key-hole shaped slot I46 .into Positive engagement with its stud headed pin I48, accordingly establishing the proper secured connection between the device and its associate operating arm I26, but that said connection element I38 may be moved in a, direction opposite to that of the pull exerted thereon by the spring I60 to bring the key-hole shaped slot I46 in position for disengagement from said pin I46 on the associated arm 26. In this manner, it will be understood that each welt bar carrying assembly consisting of the link'devices I23, carrying elements I56, and welt bar 44 of any individual knitting section 26 maybe removed easily and readily as a unit from its position on the knitting machine frame without aflecting the attachment as to the other knitting sections, whenever such removal is necessary for any purpose such as the adjustment, repair. or replacement of parts. v I

From the foregoing description of the; welt'bar carrying assemblies, it will be understood that by turning the shaft I28 in the directional arrow D. or arrow E; the link devices I28 and welt bars 88 throughoutthe.entirejlength of the knitting machine will be moved in unison towards or away from the needles 32.

Thelink devices I28 and the welt bars 48 are guided in their movements towards and away fromthe needles 82 by means of rails I88 having tracks I18 on which ride the rollers or pins I58 of the welt bar carrying elements I88. The track 518 of each of the rails I88 terminates with a free end portion I12 extended to point in close proximity of the corresponding end of the associated.

needle bar 88 (Figure 3). Each of the rails I88 is carried by a block I18 rigidly secured to the he had by providing each of the blocks lid with a transversal recessed portion I18 into which the attaching end portion 618 of, the associated rail M8 is fitted loosely for endwise, edgewise, and sidewise adjustments. The end portion We of the rail E88 received in the transversal recessed por= tion 818 of the corresponding supporting block W8 is connected to said block by means of a bolt W8 disposed to project through an elongated aperture tilt formed in the wall of said-recessed portion to extend longitudinally thereof.

. Arranged in saidwall to penetrate into the elongated aperture 088 from the diametrically opposed ends'thereof are screw-threaded elements "idd and B88 adapted to bear on opposite sides of a said bolt i88 whereby, upon relatively screwing or unscrewing the elements I88 and I88, the rail E88 is slid endwise so that the free end portion 612 of said track I18 is adjusted to a point nearer to. or further away from, the needles 88..

Arranged on each of the blocks I14 to bear upon one edge of the rail end portioni18 is an adjusting element I88 which may be in the form of a spring while also arranged on said block to bear against the opposed edge of said rail is a screw-threaded member I88 whereby, upon screwing or unscrewing said member, the rail I88 is rocked edgewise' so that the free end portion I12 of the rail track I18 is adjusted to a higher or lower point in relation to the needles 82.

Likewise arranged in said block'to bear upon one side of the rail attachingendportion I18 is a plug I82 associated with a screw-threaded pin l whereby upon screwing or unscrewing said Due to this particular mode of connection between the rails I88 and their supporting blocks I18, it will be appreciated that there is provided universal adjusting means whereby the proper F accurate. positioning of the welt hooks relative to the needles 82 is assured;

Attention is called to the fact that because of construction and associatiori of elements, is provided such a flexibility (if-adjustments that not only can the particular welt her supporting elements in each knitting section be adjusted relatively to each other to assure the proper movement of the welt bar in the associated knitting section! but said elements in one knitting section may be adjusted relatively to such elements in the other knitting section to assurei'the proper movement of the welt bars in their respective knitting sections. Consequently, a characteristic advantage of thisembodiment of the invention is found in the fact that, although the welt bar carrying elements comprised within each of the multiple knittingv sections of the machine are moved simultaneously and in unison throughout the length of the machine by the function of i the shaft I22, common to said elements, yet such elements may be adjusted individually to suit the particular knitting section within which "they are intended to function for properly moving the welt bar and accurately positioning the welt hooks.

For the purpose of rocking the shaft I28 in the direction of arrow E, to impart motion to the linkdevices E28 and welt bars 84, there is afllxedto the shaft I28 a lever I88 having attached thereto one end of a spring 288 the other end of which is attached to a suitable portion of the machine frame. Thus it will be understood that the spring exerting a pull on the lever 888 in the direction of arrow F will cause the shaft I28 to partially rotate in the direction of arrow E, thereby exerting a pull on the link devices I88 in the direction of arrow G, accordingly withdrawing under tension the welt fabrics being mitted ondzhe machine. i

Rocking of the shaft 928 in the'direction of arrow D forthe purpose of moving the link devices use in the direction of arrow H and thus move the welt bars 8% in unison towards the needles 32, is done manually, for instance, by pushing on the arms are, as indicated at P in Figure 3. The

welt. hooks may be advantageously maintained I in position relatively to the knitting instrumen- 28 and its free end portion 228 projects towards 1 talities during the hooking-up operation by means of a locking finger 282 manually movable for engagement with an abutment 288 suitably fixed to the shaft I28 to hold the same until relieved against the normal action of the spring 288.

in order to draw the welt fabrics from the banks of needles and maintain said fabrics under tension during the manual turning of the welt, I

Freely mounted upon the shaft288 and held by means of collars 2I8- within the confines of each knitting section 28 is a pair of hollow casings 2I2, preferably of circular configuration and each having a bore 2 suitably formed in the peripheral surface thereof and opening therein. Re-

sceived within the bore 2 of each casing 2l2 and rigidly connected thereto is oneiend 8 of a slotted tube 2l8 disposed so that its intermediate portion extends transversely of the front table the needle bar 38. As shown in the drawings,

the intermediate portion of each slotted tube exby means of aclamp 222.

Associated with one of the casings 2l2 of each pair, and fixed upon the shaft 208, for instance, by means of a lock screw 224, is a sleeve 228 having a flanged portion 228. A hub 280 is freely received on the sleeve 228 and abuts the flanged portion 228 thereof. The surface Of the hub 280 abutting the flanged portion 228 of the sleeve 228 is formed with an annular recess 282 accommodating an adjustable stop 284 and a fixed stop 288 relatively disposed at diametrically opposed points on said flanged portion 228. The hub 280 is moreover provided with a pin 288 projecting into the recess 282 and adapted to contact the fixed stop 288 of the flanged portion 228 of the sleeve 228, a spring 240 being interposed between said pin and adjustable stop carried by said flanged portion. j

By reason of this construction, it will be appreciated that the hub 280 is capable of torsional .resiliency, which is desirable to assure the proper take-up operation, as will fully be pointed out hereinafter. 4

The hub 280 with its torsional resilient construction cooperates with a second hub 242 freely mounted on the shaft 208 to support a, wareroller 244 said second hub being associated with the remaining casing 2l2. Each hub 280 and 242 is formed with a pulley-like extension 248 enclosed in the associated casing and having a flexible cable 248 preferably in the form of a coil spring wound thereabout. One end portion 280 of each of the flexible cables 248 is fixed to the extension 248 of the corresponding hub, as shown at 282, and the other end portion 254 of each spring cable 248 passes in the associated slotted tube M8. The spring cables 248 are interconnected by means of a cross bar 258 consisting of solid end pieces 258 united to the free ends of said cables, and of an intermediate tubular piece 280 engaging said end pieces. Hooks 282 are rigidly attached to the solid end pieces 288 and engageable with welt rods 284 adapted to be laid over the welt fabrics. Each of these hooks 282 may be of a size to yieldably grip the rod 284 between the bill of the hook and its shank so as to increase the grip of the hook with the rod.

From the preceding description of the take-up mechanism, it will be understood that rotation of the shaft 208 in the direction of arrow I will wind the spring cables 248 and, accordingly, draw the hooks 282 and welt rods 284 in engagement therewith away from the needle bar 80, whereas the turning of the shaft 208 in the direction of arrow J will unwind the spring cables 248 and cause the hooks 282 to move towards the needle bar.

By reason of the spring 240 and its association with the wareroller construction, it will be understood that said spring will cooperate with the spring cables 248, to maintain the fabric under constant proper tension while atl'ording sufilcient torsional resiliency to assure free movement of the knitting needles 82 in the various functions thereof.

Rotation of the shaft 208 in the direction of arrow I which is utilized to maintain the fabric being knitted under proper tension and take up the same as knitted by the machine, is accomplished by means of a pulley or drum 288 aflixed to said shaft and having a take-up cord 288 wound thereabout, said cord being maintained under constant pulling tension by passing in the well known manner over an overhead pulley and thence down to a counterweight (not shown). A handle and ratchet device 268 is shown for tuming the drum 288 to wind up the cord 288 thereon I 10 in order to provide sumcient draw-off movement by weight action.

The welt rod hooks 282 are brought into their position adjacent the needle bar 80, that is, to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 15 of the drawings, by manually rotating the shaft 208 in the direction of arrow J.

Th proper position of thehooks 282 is assured by means of a one-tooth ratchet wheel 210 on the shaft 208, to be engaged by a. dog 21l pivotally supported on a suitable portion of the machine frame 20, which dog 2" may be operated in the same manner as 'thedog H8 hereinbefore referred to.

At this point, attention is called to the fact that the hooks 282 are maintained advantageously above the fabric and its knitting field by means of a bend 212 in the slotted tubes 2 l8 which guides the hooks upwardly. At any time after a suflicient amount of welt fabrics have been knitted, the welt rods 284 may be brought by the operator into operative position.

To eliminate the separate manual placing of individual welt rods, an attachment for handling the welt rods on all the knitting sections is provided. As shown in the drawings, this attachment preferably comprises spring clips 214, one for each end portion of each-welt rod to frictionally engage the same in the manner indicated particularly in Figure 15. I

Each clip m is carried ona head :16 having rod guiding members 218. The heads 218 are secured to a cross bar 280.supported in arms 282 swingable over and back to operative positions,

as represented in Figure 15. For that purpose, the arms 282 are mounted for swinging movesupports on the machine frame.

In using the improved attachment, the initial course of loops is formed by operation of the knitting machine in the usual manner, that is, the yarn carriers 88 feed th yarn to the needles 82 which then cofunction with the sinkers and dividers 84 to form the loops which remain engaged on the needles. Following the formation of said initial course of loops, the knitting machine is stopped for permitting the welt hooks 48 on the welt bars 44 to enter between the needles 82 in line with the sinkers 84 at a point between the sinkers 84 and knockover bits 88, :and subsequently receive theinitial loops when cast ofl the sinker nibs.

The welt bars 44 whichrduring the knit-ting of the initial courses, laid in their neutral inactive position, that is, away from the needles are moved simultaneously towards the needle bars and brought into operative hook-up position, that is, with the hook end of the welt hooks: 48 projecting slightly beyond the needles 32 in line with the sinkers 84 at a point between the sinkers 84 and knockover bits 88. The welt bars 44 are moved in unison towards the needle bars for the hook-up operation by manually rotating the shaft 80 or I20.

Following the hook-up, the knitting machine 11 operatesin the usual manner to knit the series of courses forming the welt fabrics, which are drawn resiliently through thewelt bars 44 and associated springs 86 or I60 by means of the drum H and take-up cable I I2 or lever I98 and spring 200 functioning to rotate the shaft 66 to I20 in the direction of arrow B, which drives the welt bars away from the needles.

As the knitting of the welt proceeds, the welt rod hooks 262- are brought to their position adjacent the needle bars '30, that is, the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 15, by manually rotating the shaft 206 in the direction of arrow J. At anytime after a sufficient amount of welt fabrics have 'been knitted, the welt rods 264 may be brought by the operator into operating position by manually rotating the shaft 284 of the welt rod supporting and positioning mechanism.

.After a predetermined length of welt fabric has been knitted, the shaft 206 is rotated manually in the direction of arrow 1, which resiliently retracts the hooks 262 from their position adjacent the needle bars. The hooks 262 in their retracting movement engage the associated welt rods 264, freeing the same from the spring clips 214 and, through action of the bend 212 in the slotted tube 2l8, draw said welt rods 264 onto thefabric. I

After the knitting of the completed lengths of welt fabrics, the machine is stopped and the operator, removing the welt bars from their supports, manually turns the individual fabrics in the customary manner, after which the knitting of the remaining portions of the stocking blanks is proceeded with in the usual well known manner. v

It will be understood, particularly upon reference to the diagrammatic showing in Figure 22, that all the welt bars 42 may be brought simultaneously into hook-up position by manual op- 2. In a fiat knitting machine having a plurality of knitting sections each provided witha bank of needles, the combination with'a welt bar and a welt rod for each of said sections of: means manually operable for bringing all the welt bars simultaneously into position to engage the loops of the initial course formed in the respectivesections, and then manually operable for drawing all the welt bars simultaneously to cause their engagement with said loops, said means including horizontally extending stationary rails having a predetermined fixed relationship with said eration of the shaft 60, that all the welt rods 264 may be brought simultaneously into suspended position over their respective welt fabrics by man- 'ual operatiomof the shaft 284, and that all of said welt rods may be brought simultaneously into operative position by manual operation of the shaft 206.

In concluding, it is to be understood that the constructions herein shown and described are capable of certain modifications, without departing from the. essence of the invention. Accordthe respective sections, and then manually operable for drawing all the welt bars simultaneously to cause their engagement with said loops; means manually operable for bringing all the welt rods simultaneously into suspended position over the fabrics being knitted; welt rod engaging devices disposed in each section; and means manually operable for bringing all of said devices simultaneously into position to engage the suspended welt rods, and then manually operable for driving said devices simultaneously into engagement with the welt rods to withdraw the latter from their suspended position and to apply the same onto the fabrics,

banks of needles; means mechanically operable to withdraw the hooked loops and take up the i fabrics being knitted in the several sections;

means manually operable for bringing all the welt rods simultaneously into suspended position over said fabrics; welt rod engaging devices disposed in each section; and means manually operable for bringing all of said devices simultaneously into position to engage the suspended welt rods, and then manually operable fordriving said devices simultaneously into engagement with the welt rods to withdraw the latter-from their suspended position and to apply the same onto the fabrics.

3. In a fiat knitting machine having a plurality of knitting sections each provided with a bank of needles, the combination with a welt bar and a welt rod for each of said sections of: means manually operable for bringing all the welt bars simultaneously into position to engage the loops of the initial courses formed in the respective sections, andvthen manually operable for drawing all the welt bars simultaneously to cause their engagement with said loops, said means including horizontally extending stationary rails having a predetermined fixed relationship with said banks of needles; means manually operable for bringing all the welt rods simultaneously into suspended position over the fabrics being knitted; welt rod engaging devices disposed in each section; means manually operable for bringing all of said devices simultaneously into position to engage the suspended welt rods, and then manually operable for driving said devices simultaneously into engagement with the welt rods to withdraw the latter from their suspended position and to apply the same onto the fabrics; and means-mechanically operable for taking up said 'welt rods.

4. In a fiat knitting machine having a plurality of knitting sections each provided with a bankof needles, the combination with a welt bar and a welt rod for each of said sections of means detachably connected to the welt bars and manually operable for bringing all the welt bars simultaneously into position to engage the loops of the initial courses'formed in the respective sections, and thenmanually operable for drawing all the welt bars simultaneousl to cause their engagement with said loops, said means including horizontally extending stationary rails having a predetermined fixed relationship with said banks of needles; means mechanically operable to withdraw the hooked loops and take up the fabrics being knitted in the several sections; means manually operable for bringing all the welt rods simultaneously into suspended position over said fabrics; welt rod engaging devices disposed in' each section; means manually operable for bringing all of said devices simultaneously into position to engage the suspended welt rods, and then manually operable for driving said devices simultaneously into engagement with the welt rods to 13 withdraw the latter from their suspended position and to apply the same onto the fabrics; and

means mechanically operable for taking up said welt rods,

5. In a welt forming attachment for knitting machines of the character described: a welt bar; carrier devices. one for each end of the welt bar;

a mechanism operable for moving said welt bar carrier devices. said mechanism including movement imparting means, lengths of flexible mate'- rial establishing connections between said movement imparting means and welt bar carrier devices for pulling and pushing the latter, and rigid guide members associated with said lengths of flexible material for guiding the same in a pre- 7 determined direction in their pulling and pushing of the welt bar carrier devices; and, a welt rod operating mechanism including welt rod engaging elements, movement imparting means, flexible bands interconnecting said movement imparting means and welt rod engaging elements for advancing and retracting the latter, and rigid guide members associated with said flexible bands for guiding the same in a predetermined direction in their advancing and retracting of the welt rod engagingelements.

6. In a full-fashioned hosieryknitting machine. the combination of a welt forming mechanism, and a welt rod operating mechanism including welt rod engaging elements; movement imparting means therefor; yieldableflexible connecting means between said elements and movement imparting means; and, rigid guide members associated with said connectingmeans to guide the a same in-a predetermined pathof movement.

'7. In combination 'with a bank of knitting 1 needles in a flat knitting machine, a welt forming attachment comprising: a welt bar; means for supporting the welt bar; movement imparting means; and'means interconnecting the welt bar supporting means and the movement imparting means and including a member which is un- 7 yielding and positively moves the welt bar in one direction, and is resilient and yieldingly '1 moves the welt car in the opposite direction.

, 8. In a multi section knitting machine having welt forming-mechanism, a device for laying welt rods on the fabrics in the several knitting sections comprising: 'a shaft extending throughout the several knitting sections and mounted for reversible rotatingmovements; pairs of arms fixed on said shaft extend at right angles thereto. one pair of arms being disposed within the conflnes'of each knitting section and each arm terminating withweit rod engaging spring means whereby, upon rotation of the shaft in one direction, the spring means of said arms may be located simultaneously in position to place the welt rod inretaining engagement therewith, and upon rotation of the shaft in the other direction, the spring means on said arms may be located simultaneously in position for releasably suspending the engaged welt rods over the fabrics bein knitted in the corresponding knitting sections of the machine; and, a welt rod operating mechanism including welt rod engaging elements, movement imparting means, flexible bands intercon- 14 welt forming mechanism, a device for laying welt rods on the fabrics in the several knitting sections comprising: welt rod retaining spring means within each knitting section adapted to engage the welt rod for use therein and. movable to operative position for suspending said welt rod over the corresponding fabric; supporting V and positioning means for said welt rod retaining spring means and including a member extending throughout the several knitting sections for moving all of said welt rod retaining spring means simultaneously to operative position: and, a welt rod operating mechanism including welt rod engaging elements, movement imparting means, flexible bands interconnecting. said movement imparting means and welt rod engaging elements for advancing and retracting the latter, and rigid guide members associated with said flexible bands for guiding the same in a predetermined direction in their advancing and retracting of the welt rod fabric take-up comprising: a welt rod operating mechanism including welt rod engaging elements;

movement imparting means; coil springs inter-' connecting said movement imparting means and welt'rod engaging elements for advancing and retracting the latter; 'and rigid guide members associated with said coil springs for guiding the 1 same in a predetermined direction in their advancing and retreating of the welt rod engaging elements. a I

12. A fabric take-up for knitting machines of the character described comprising: a welt rod operating mechanism including welt rod engaging elements; movement imparting means; yieldable flexible connecting cables between said movement imparting means and welt rod engaging elements for advancing and retracting the latter; and rigid guide members associated with said connecting cables for guiding the same in a predetermined direction in their advancing and retracting of the welt rod engaging elements.

13. In a flat knitting machine, a fabric takeup mechanism comprising in combination with a welt rod: a welt rod operating mechanism including welt rod engaging element' movement imparting means therefor; yieldable flexible con-' necting means between said element and movement imparting means; and rigid guide members 1 associated with said connecting means to guide the same in a predetermined path of movement.

14. A combined welt turning and take-up attachment for-,flat knitting machines comprising,

necting said movement imparting means and welt rod eng in elements for advancing and retracting the latter, and rigid guide members associated with said flexible bands for guiding the same in a predetermined direction in their advancing and retracting of the welt rod engaging elements.

9.-In a multi section knitting machine having in combination with a welt bar and a welt rod: a welt bar mechanism and awelt rod mechanism; said welt bar mechanism including a.-carrier device for each end of the welt bar, and movement imparting means having a take-up shaft and yieldablemeans attached to the take-up shaft and connected to saidocarr'ier devices; said welt rod including a welt rod engaging elesaid needles.

at is ment for each end of the welt rod, and movement imparting means having a wareroller shaft land yieidable means attached to the wareroller ment imparting means having "a take-up shaftand yieldable means inthe iorm or coil springs attached at one end to. the take-up shaft and connected to the carrier devices; said welt rod mechanism including a welt rod engaging element for each end of the welt rod, movement im- -parting means having a wareroller shai't' and yieldable means in the form of coil springs 'attached at one end to the wareroller shaft and connected at the other end to said welt rod engaging elements.

18. In a flat knitting machine havinganeedle bar, a welt forming attachment comprising: a welt bar; a mechanismincluding an oscillating device operable-to impart movements to. said welt bar; and a means connecting the weltbar to'said mechanism, said means including a rigid hollow member, a connection-piece slidably mounted in I'L-Ina flat knitting machine having a needle bar, a welt forming attachment comprising: a welt bar; a mechanism including an oscillating device operable to impart movements to said welt bar; and a means connecting the welt bar to said mechanism, said means including a rigid hollow member. a connectionpiece slidably mounted in one end of said hollow member and connected to the welt bar, a connection element including a slidable part mounted in the other end of said hollow member and having means for establishing a detachable connection with said device, and

a coil spring enclosed in said hollow member and interconnecting said piece and element for relativeyieldable sliding movement with respect to the rigid hollow member.

18. In combination with a bank of knitting needles in a flat knitting machine, a welt forming attachment comprising: a welt bar; means for imparting movements to said welt bar in relation to the knitting needles; and means adjustable universally for guiding the welt barin a.

predeterminable, regulatable path with respect to 19. In combination with a bank -of knitting needles in a flat knitting machine, a welt forming attachment comprising: a welt bar movable towards and in relation to the needles, means for guiding the welt bar in its movement; and means for adjusting said welt bar guiding means lengthwise, crosswise," and sidewise with" respect to the needles. I

I 20. Ina flat knitting machine having a needle bar, a weltforming attachment comprising: a

.rigid hollow member.

hollow member, a connection piece slidably 'mounted in one end of said hollow member and connected to the welt bar. a connection element slidablymounted in the other end 01' said hollow member and connected to said lever, and a coil spring enclosed in said hollow member and interconnecting said piece a'ndfelement for relative yieldable sliding movement rigid hollow member.

21. In a flat knitting machine having a needle bana welt forming attachment comprising: a

welt bar: amechanism including an oscillating lever operable to impart movements to saidwelt bar; and a linking device connecting the welt bar,

to said mechanism, said device including a rigid hollow member, "a. connection piece slidably mountedin one end of said hollow member and connected to the welt bar, a connection element slidably mounted in the other end of said hollow member and having means for establishing a'd'ejtachable connection with said lever. and a coil spring enclosed in said hollow member and! to connecting said piece and element for yieldable sliding movementwith respetit' 22. In combination with a bank or? needles in a flat knitting machine, -a' welt fornfing attachment comprising; a welt-bar," means for imparting welt turning movements to welt bar in relation tothe knitting needlespaiifd means adjustable universally for guiding the Well; bar in a predeterminable, regulatable path with respect to said needles.

23. In combination with a bank oiknittin'g needles in a flat knitting machine, a welt forming attachment comprising: a welt bar movable towards and in relation to the needles for turning and forming a welt; mean for guiding the welt bar in its movement; and means for adjusting said welt bar guiding means lengthwise, crosswise, and sidewise with respect to the needles.

24. In a flat knitting machine having a plurality of knitting sections, each provided" with a bank of needles, the combination with a welt bar and a welt rod for each of said sections oi:

means manually operablejfor bringing all the welt bars simultaneously into position to engage the loops of the initial courses formed in the respective sections; and then manually operable for drawing all the welt bars simultaneously to cause their engagement with said loops, said means including horizontally extendingstationary rails having a predetermined fixed relationship with said banks of needles; carrier devices slidably mounted on said rails and detachably supporting the welt bars; means manuallyoperable for bringing all the'welt rods simultaneously into suspended position over the fabrics being knitted; welt rod engaging devices disposed in each section; and means manually operable tobringing all of said devices simultaneously into position to engage the suspended welt rods. and then manually operable for driving said devices simultaneously into engagement with the welt rods to withdraw the latter from their suspended position and to apply the same onto the fabrics.

25. In a full-fashioned hosiery. knittingmachine; in "combinationt a shalt azwareroller rotatably mounted on 'Sakr shaftil a tyieldable connection I, between said roller and; shaft xa- :welt rod: and mechanism for'blier'ating the welt rod including a pair of -cables each having 'an end with respect to the for said cables, whereby said mechanism is guided into engagement withthe welt rod.

27. In a full-fashioned hosiery knitting machine, in combination: a welt rod; means for operating the welt rod including a coil spring provided with a hook for engagement with the welt rod; and guide means for the coil spring whereby the coil spring is guided in its movement for bringing about engagement of the hook with the welt rod.

28. In a full-fashioned hosiery knitting machine, in combination: a shaft; a wareroller rotatably mounted on said shaft; a yieldable connection between said roller and shaft: a welt rod; mechanism for operating the welt rod including a pair of cables each having an end portion attached to said wareroller; a welt bar; a second shaft having a wareroller thereon; and mechanism for operating said welt bar including a pair of cables each having an end attached to the wareroller of said second shaft.

29. In a full-fashioned hosiery knitting ma-' chine including a bank of needles, in combination: a shaft; a wareroller rotatably mounted on said shaft; a yieldable connection between said roller and shaft; a welt rod: mechanism for operating the welt rod including a pair of cables each having an end portion coiled about said ware-' roller; means supporting said cables for movements towards and away from said needles; 9. welt bar; a second shaft having a wareroller thereon; mechanism for operating said welt bar including a pair of cables each having an end attached to the wareroller of said second shaft: and a welt rod supporting device associated with the welt rod operating mechanism whereby a welt rod may be supported and moved into contact with the knitted fabric and into position to be engaged by said welt rod operating mechanism.

30. In a full-fashioned hosiery knitting machine, in combination: a shaft; a wareroller rotatably mounted on said shaft; a yieldable connection between said roller and shaft; a welt rod: mechanism for operating the weltrod in- 18 means to move said member in a direction opposite to that of its draw-off movement.

32. A weltbar and welt rod operating attachment for-flat knitting machines comprising, in combination: carrier devices, one for each end of the welt barya mechanism operable for operating the welt bar including movement impart ing means; coil springs between said means and said devices for pulling and pushing the latter; rigid guide members associated with said coil springs for guiding the same in their pulling and pushing of said devices; a welt rod operating mechanism including a fabric draw-oil? member for attachment to the welt rod; and means to move said member in a direction opposite to that of its draw-off movement. 33. A welt bar and welt rod operating attachment for a knitting machine, comprising: a pair of rotatable shafts; coil springs providing operative connections between said shafts and the welt bar and welt rod: and means associated with said coil springs whereby rotation of said shafts in opposite directions will push or pull the welt bar and draw and tension the welt rod.

34. A welt bar and welt rod operating attachment for a knitting machine, comprising; a pair of rotatable shafts; means providing an operative connection between the welt bar and one of said shafts whereby rotation of the shaft in opposite directions will pull or push the welt bar; and

resilient means providing an operative connection between the welt rod and the other of said shafts whereby rotation of the shaft in one direction engages said second means with the welt rod. and rotation of the shaft in the opposite direction will draw and tension the welt rod.

35. A welt bar and welt rod operating attach-' ment for a knitting machine, comprising: a pair eluding a pair of coil springs each having an end portion attached to said wareroller; a welt bar; a second shaft having a wareroller thereon; mechanism for operating said welt barincluding a pair of coil springs each having an end attached to the ware roller of said second shaft; and a welt rod supporting device associated with the welt rod operating mechanism whereby a-welt rod may be supported and moved into contact with the knitted fabric and into position to be engaged by said welt rod operating mechanism. 31. A welt bar and welt rod operating attach ment for flat knitting machines comprising, in

of rotatable shafts; means providing an operative connection between the welt bar and one of said shafts whereby rotation of the shaft in opposite directions will pull or push the welt bar; resilient means providing an operative connection between the welt rod and the other of said shafts whereby rotation of the shaft in opposite directions will connect said second means with the welt rod and draw and tension the same: a pulley on each shaft; and weighted cables wrapped around said pulleys whereby the shafts may be turned in one direction on the unwrapping of the cables from the pulleys.

36.,A welt bar operating mechanism for flat knitting machines having a bank of needles, comprising: .a support for the bar, and means connected to the support for moving the bar towards and. away from the bank of needles and resiliently tension the fabric asknitted and including a shaft, a pulley on the shaft, and a weighted cable connected to' the pulley.

37. A welt bar operating attachment for flat prising: a pair of rails positioned relative to the needles; a support for the welt bar movable on the rails towards and away from theneedles; a'

shaft; a roller on said shaft; resilient stretchable elements wrapped around said roller and connected to said support during its movement towards oraway from the bank of needles; a pulley on said shaft; and a weighted cable wrappedaround said pulley to tension the shaft,

38. In a flat knitting machine having multi knitting sections including banks of needles, an

attachment therefor comprising, in combination:

casing and the other '20 endsecuredtooneofsaid plates; and said welt rod mechanism'consisting tension the fabrics as knitted; and a weighted cable for tensioning said third means.

39. A welt bar and welt rodoperating attach- I ment for a-fiat knitting machine-having a bank of needles comprising, in combination: a mechanism for moving the welt bar towards and away from the needles and a mechanism for enga in and moving .the welt rod-relative to the needles; said welt bar mechanism consisting ofa pair of slidably mounted-plates for supporting the welt bar, a rotatable shaft, a pair of casings rotatabiy mounted on said shaft, a pair of clutch devices secured to said shaft and including movably mounted plungers for engagement and disengagement with said casings, a pair of channel rails extending from and communicating with the interior of said casings and slidably supporting said plates, and a pair of flexible cables supported by said rails and each coiled within a, casing and having one end secured to a casing and the other end secured to one of said plates; and said welt rod mechanism consisting of a rotatable shaft, a pair of casing rotatably mounted on said shaft, a sleeve fixed to said shaft, a wareroller rotatably mounted on said shaft and having its end portions housed within said casings. slotted tubes extending from and communicating with the interior of said casings, welt rod engaging hooks, and flexible cables mounted in said tubes and coiled about said wa'reroller and housed within said casings and each having one end attached to the wareroller and the other end attached to the welt rod engaging hooks.

40. A welt bar and welt rod operating attach ment for a flat knitting machine having a bank of needles comprising, in combination: a mechanism for moving the welt bar towards and away from the needles and a mechanism for engaging and moving the welt rod relative to the needles;

' said welt bar mechanism consisting of a pair of slidably mounted plates for supporting the welt bar, a rotatable shaft, a pair of casings rotatably mounted on said shaft, a pair of clutch devices secured to said shaft and including movably mounted plungers for engagement and disen-- gagement with said casings, a pair of channel rails extending from and communicating with the interior oi said casings, and slidably supporting said plates. and a pair of coil springs slidably supported by said rails and each coiled within a casing and having one end secured to a of a rotatable shaft, a pair of casings rotatably mounted on said shaft, a sleeve fixed to said shaft, 0. wareroller. rotatably mounted on said shaft and having its end portions housed within said casings, slotted tubes extending from and communicating with the interior of said casings] welt rod engaging'hooks, and coil springs slidably mounted in said tubes and coiled about said ware roller and housed within said casings and each having one end attachment to the wareroller andthe other end attached to the welt rod en-' gaging hooks.

'41. A welt bar and welt rod operating and supporting attachment for a flat knitting machine having a bank of needles comprising, in combinations: a mechanism for operating the welt bar towards and away from the needles, a mechanism for engaging and operating the welt rod relative to the needles, and a device for supporting the welt rod in a position to be engaged by the welt rod operating mechanism; said welt liar mechanism consisting of a pairof slidably, mounted plates for supporting the welt bar, a rotatable shaft, a pair of casings rotatably mounted on said shaft, a pair of clutch devices secured to said shaft and including movably mounted plunga pair oi. coil springs supported by said rail and each coiled within a casing and having one end secured'to a casing and the other end secured to one of said plates; said welt rod mechanism consisting of a rotatable shaft, a pair of casings ro-,

tatably mounted on said shaft, a sleeve fixed to said shaft, a wareroller rotatabl'yimounted on said shaft and having its end portions housed within said casings, slotted tubes extending from and communicating with the interior of said casings, welt rod engaging hooks, and coil springs mounted in said tubes and coiled about said ware! roller and housed within said casings and each having one end attached to the wareroller andthe other end attached to the welt rod engaging hooks; and said welt rod supporting device consisting of a pair of pivotally mounted arms, a

mm 0. v mmnnrcn' MAX WACHILER. 

